2 Peter 3:9

2 Peter 3:9 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
• New International Version (NIV)The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Context of 2 Peter 3:9

7But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people. 8Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like one day. The Lord does not delay [as though He were unable to act] and is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is [extraordinarily] patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish with a [mighty and thunderous] roar, and the [material] elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and the works that are on it will be burned up. 11Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God],

2 Peter 3:9 word by word

οὐ βραδύνει κύριος τῆς ἐπαγγελίας, ὥς τινες βραδύτητα ἡγοῦνται· ἀλλὰ μακροθυμεῖ εἰς ὑμᾶς μὴ βουλόμενός τινας ἀπολέσθαι ἀλλὰ πάντας εἰς μετάνοιαν χωρῆσαι.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• The Lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• The Lordκύριοςkurios · lord: GodG2962
• isβραδύνωbradunō · to delayG1019
• notοὐou · noG3756
• concerning his promiseἐπαγγελίαepaggelia · promiseG1860
• asὡςhōs · as/whenG5613
• some menτιςtis · oneG5100
• countἡγέομαιhēgeomai · to governG2233
• slacknessβραδύτηςbradutēs · slownessG1022
• butἀλλάalla · butG235
• is longsufferingμακροθυμέωmakrothumeō · to have patienceG3114
• toεἰςeis · towardG1519
• us-wardἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• notμήmē · notG3361
• willing thatβούλομαιboulomai · to planG1014
• should perishἀπολλύωapollumi · to destroyG622
• allπᾶςpas · allG3956
• should comeχωρέωchōreō · to make room forG5562
• repentanceμετάνοιαmetanoia · repentanceG3341

Cross-references for 2 Peter 3:9

• Isaiah 46:13I bring near My righteousness [in the salvation of Israel], it is not far away; And My salvation will not delay. And I will grant salvation in Zion, And My glory for Israel.
• Habakkuk 2:3For the vision is yet for the appointed [future] time It hurries toward the goal [of fulfillment]; it will not fail. Even though it delays, wait [patiently] for it, Because it will certainly come; it will not delay.
• Luke 18:7And will not [our just] God defend and avenge His elect [His chosen ones] who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay [in providing justice] on their behalf?
• Hebrews 10:37For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
• 2 Peter 3:15And consider the patience of our Lord [His delay in judging and avenging wrongs] as salvation [that is, allowing time for more to be saved]; just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given to him [by God],
• Exodus 34:6Then the Lord passed by in front of him, and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth (faithfulness);
• Psalms 86:15But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.
• Isaiah 30:18Therefore the Lord waits [expectantly] and longs to be gracious to you, And therefore He waits on high to have compassion on you. For the Lord is a God of justice; Blessed (happy, fortunate) are all those who long for Him [since He will never fail them].
• Romans 9:22What if God, although willing to show His [terrible] wrath and to make His power known, has tolerated with great patience the objects of His wrath [which are] prepared for destruction?
• 1 Timothy 1:16Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost [of sinners], Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example or pattern for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.
• 1 Peter 3:20who once were disobedient, when the great patience of God was waiting in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight persons [Noah’s family], were brought safely through the water.
• Exodus 18:23If you will do this thing and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure [the responsibility], and all these people will also go [back] to their tents in peace.”
• Exodus 32:32Yet now, if You will, forgive their sin—and if not, please blot me out of Your book which You have written (kill me)!”
• Exodus 33:11And so the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his attendant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.
• Romans 2:4Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?
• 1 Timothy 2:4who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge and recognition of the [divine] truth.

Commentaries on 2 Peter 3:9

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 9The Lord is not slack - They probably in their mocking said, "Either God had made no such promise to judge the world, destroy the earth, and send ungodly men to perdition; or if he had, he had forgotten to fulfill it, or had not convenient time or leisure." To some such mocking the apostle seems to refer: and he immediately shows the reason why deserved punishment is not inflicted on a guilty world. But is long-suffering - It is not slackness, remissness…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise - That is, it should not be inferred because His promise seems to be long delayed that therefore it will fail. When people, after a considerable lapse of time, fail to fulfil their engagements, we infer that it is because they have changed their plans, or because they have forgotten their promises, or because they have no ability to perform them, or because there is a lack of principle which makes them fail…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-10Verses 5-10 Had these scoffers considered the dreadful vengeance with which God swept away a whole world of ungodly men at once, surely they would not have scoffed at his threatening an equally terrible judgment. The heavens and the earth which now are, by the same word, it is declared, will be destroyed by fire. This is as sure to come, as the truth and the power of God can make it. Christians are here taught and established in the truth of the coming of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-13Peter moves from condemning the false teachers to encouraging the believers. The false teachers doubted that Christ would return, so Peter needed to teach clearly about this truth. Christians must hold onto the message that the apostles taught about the day of judgment. They should live godly lives as they wait for that day.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 99. slack--slow, tardy, late; exceeding the due time, as though that time were already come. He 10:37, "will not tarry." his promise--which the scoffers cavil at. 2Pe 3:4, "Where is the promise?" It shall be surely fulfilled "according to His promise" (2Pe 3:13). some--the "scoffers." count--His promise to be the result of "slackness" (tardiness). long-suffering--waiting until the full number of those appointed to "salvation" (2Pe 3:15) shall be completed…Read the comment

Topics related to 2 Peter 3:9

• God
• God Continued...
• Jesus Continued
• Salvation

In the dictionaries

• Asleep
• Death
• Dissolve
• Hard
• Promise
• Wrest
• Heavens, New (and Earth, New)
• Jude, the Epistle of
• Longsuffering
• Love

Commentaries on 2 Peter 3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings